Typewriting machine



April 7, 1925.

B. F. BARKER TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1922 Patented Apr. 7,

UNITED STATES Pica BENJAMIN r. BARKER, OF nnrnso, TEXAS, assleivon TO UNDERWOOD rrrnwni rnn COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y, .accnroaarron on DELAWARE.

TYEPEWRITZHG- MACHINE.

Application filed. March 1%, 1922. Serial No, 543,636.

sition, with reference to the letter-space scale of a typewriting machine, of a writing of given length to be centered between-any se' lectcd margins, or in any selected column zones, denoted on such letter-space scale. More particularly, the invention relates to a device of this character of the general nature of a slide-rule whereby the desired computations may be made mechanically, and

withoutnientaleifort, for any selectedinan gins or column positions within the range of travel of the carriage of the typewriting machine. 4 r

An object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the'character men'- tioned, having afixed scale and a slide-scale of twice the'length of the fixed scale, and

having the scales so condensed that the scale on the slide may be laid in substantially a' right line within the defines of the sides of the typewriter frame.

p A further object of the invention is the provision of a slide-rule 0f the character mentioned, the slide of which is in the form of a continuous tape, of twice the length of the scale thereon,so that movement of the tape a distance less than half its length will suiiice to cause any graduation on the v tape to register with any graduation on the such movement, a fingerpiece attached to the tape need not be passed around.- the hights thereof. i I

Further objects of the invention are the provision of means for mounting the device on. a typewriting machine, in a clearly visible and accessible position, near and parallel to the usual letter-space scale of the machine, so that the graduations on-the several scalesmay be conveniently read with respect to one another; of means whereby the (lEVlCOD'lZtY be secured to the machine substantially within the defines of the sides of the machine frame; of a slide-rule of such lined scale of the rule, and so that, to effectconstruction that, when on the machine, any desired reading may be obtained therefrom by movement, in one direction along the front of the machine, of a finger-piece attached to the front of the tape, preferably centrally of the scale thereon; and of a setting for the tape to protect the same against 1n ury.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a slide-ruleof the character mentioned, which may readily, and in a simple manner, be attached to and detached from a typewriting machine, and which may be marketed as an article, unitary in itself, to be acquired and used, if wanted; and

which, to be applied to the machine, requires no modification or special structure of the latter.- 1

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a View of the front upper edge of the'main frame of a typewriting machine, showing the usual letter-space scale thereon, and, in conjunction therewith, the computing device of the present invention; and showing the front edge of the carriage.

Figure 2 is a view in cross-section on the line 22 of Figure 1. V

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view, in end elevation, partially cross-sectional, of the computing device and means by which it is mounted on the machine-frame. i

' Figure 4 is a view in. line 11 of Figure 3.

. Fast to a cross-bar 10, forming part of the main frame 11 of the typewriting machine, is the usual letter space scale 12. Adjustable on a rod 13, carried by the. main frame 11, are margin-stops 141- and 15. These stops are of the kind usually found on the Underwood standard typcwritiug nutchine, and are released and moved by means of tingeu pieces 16. As shown in Figure 2, the fingerpiece 16 operates a pivoted toothed member 17, which forms part of the stop structure, and which engages with the toothed bar 18 for locking the stop in selected position.

The details of the stop'15 are not shown. The stops 14 and 15 carry pointers or indexfingers 19 and 20, respectively, for co'operation with the scale 12, to determine the 'setting of the stops. i

The front rail 21 of the carriage has a crosssection' on the Secured to the cross-harlO otthemain frame; iltlfiltillGl end tliereo:t,-by screws26 are. arms 2'] which depend downward and forward ,'rand:avl1icln at. their lower ends; are offsfetrah-QS, to formbnaclrets nfor supporting a :flat, plate:29, avh.ich extends aliorizontally across the front: of the machine. Centrally of the plate 29, and on the upper edge there; of; \is :a scale 30, having -;s;radnations@num here-d in correspondence:with the gradua.

tions on: the a scalerl2 .an(l,,lilte thelatter, TlIOnSCPtlG 30; is; however, nnuchw-i-n ore: condensed than the scalewlZ beings-shownasot only one-halt. otwthe-iactnal length 'otdlie latter.- Beloiv theiscale 302the plateQQJis :cut away, at;

running; from. right to Jet 2.

31, .t0.displa v1a :por-tionottheslide-scale or tape 32. which lies behind the plate 29.-

The slidingscale or tape (see Figure 4-) is in the form of a continuoushand; the bights of which einhrac and arersuppor-te'd bv. pins and 34. Between the hights :Of the. ,tape the front and. rear reaches thereoii are held apart by rand have bearinguupon similar pins and Allv ot' the P1119133 to. 36 are carried hyandbetween two angle-- pieces 37'and 38,-soldered or otherwise suits ably secured/tothe undensrdeofthe plate 29, and running parallelctc -'.one another;

lengthwise.:oftheiplate.QQ so that thetape is ,setx and. moves in .a channelnforined by the plates 29 37randi38. .The plates 37 and 38 are preferably otsnzch Idepthas t01-l)l:()r trude slightly beyon d the lower. reach of the tape, thereby protecting the tape against in 1 3 Theends 0t thetape are brought together;

and may be: stitched on other-wiseconnected asQatHSOr- .Beyond the point :39 the ends-of thetapeaare turned-outward, asshown in Figures 3 filltlntt. For gripping.and-moving the tape.theout-turned ends lflithereo'li are set: in a slot 41 in therearo'ta .bloclt thm tront of which is tapered to itornna handlmpiecent '1 For securing thertape ends 10in llllCzSlO 4-1, thehloclt has=pcrtoratiions- 4.41:; and LB-(see Figure 4), through which,-

and througlrthe ztape; ends-within the -blocl ,l

a string l-Gis passed; the ends let the-stringbeingflbronght'rtogether and: tied at 4C7.

Preferably; to prevent the strin from :wear; J! ..i 1. t-he:sicle tacesa'ol; thebtoci: 7L, are glooveth.

as at 48 between the perforations -tiand 4-5; so that the string 4-6; where. 1t :crosseswthe The rod 24 serves as a runwayt't'oruthen .thetapep The angle-pieces 37 and 38 may,

however, serve as a bearing for the handlepiece.

Referring to Figure 1, the front reach 01? the :tape is shown as having a scale thereon, the graduations of which run -from leftto right, thatis tosay, in a direction reverse to the gradnations on the scales 30 and 12. 111 correspondence"with the graduations on the scales 30 and 12,.thc gradnations on the scalel9 run fronrfiO to The graduations on theflscaile -19 are, however;twice thendistanceiapart of: the gradnations on the scale? 30. Thus, the scale 419i is just twice as long-r as the scale 30. It. will be evident that, when one graduatiion on thescale 19: :is 'oppositei-a graduation on ltllQzSCEllG 30, other gradiui tions on timescale-49' are opposite alternate l'l'itfllh atiens; on ithe scale.30;- Onlyfthat part ot the scale '-J-9.is required to be visihle'which lies opposite the scale 30. and the slot 31 in the'plateflt) is-shonin in Figured as approtqimatel; the lengrh oli'the calei 30. By moving the tape-handle-piece however, any part ot the scale lfl'lllfiffl)? brought into registration withv'thescale 30: and it will hO-flOtil that the distance "between the bightsot the 'tapealS .sutticiently great. to permit the handle 143 tobe thrown, either to the right or left, far enough to bring. any. desiredanuinben on theta-pe into registration with 2l11}-":(lSl.TQ(,l, number on the scale 30. T hat portion of the tape -which fOTll'lS .the rear reach tllGl'QO'fglXhOIl \the handle 43 is centered; as iwn. inFigrure 1 may there forer be blank Ashereinbe tore stated, the purpose otthe rule is to ascertain the po s'ti'onion the scaleotthe typewritino; r iachi ,e the initial character of a given reading to be centered between i any given readings. on the scale of the t 'pcai'ritinginachinew The given readings "on the-scale ot' the typewritinggi ina chine may he therextreme inargins, or any selected ina-rgins-y as determined by the in gin stops v or-lrua r be any two readings at HHYPOSltlOilS: between the n'iargin-stops. To determine the positioniion the sealer-oi thetypewritinji" ins-chine "tor the initial chan. acter 01" the writing to be thus centered, the tape is moved so as to brinethe number thereon which :(JOIl-OSPQIHlS to the starting liltll'glll?=(1PPOSltG tllGEllUlllbQl on-lhe tired scale lOarhich corresponds to the other margnn For instance,'it-the writing is to be centered between readings and 70 on theiscale of the :typewritiny; machine, the tape 'is moved until the reading 5Z5 thereon registers with the reading 70- on the t'i::ed--scale BOQas shown in Figure 1. Thereafter the numherot characters in the -writ on the tape indicates the graduation on the scale of the typewriting machine at which the carriage-pointer should be set for printing the initial character of the writing.

If the reading representing the sum meas-' ured on the fixed scale falls between two graduations on the tape, the higher of these tape-grzuluations is the one selected for the initial character. In practice, the number of characters in a given writing to be centered and the addition thereto of the first marginnumber is obtained, without mental effort, by merely throwing the typewritercarriage to the marginal position, which may be determined by the right-hand margin-stop, and striking the space-bar once for each character and space between words. 'llhisreading is then taken from the scale of the typewriting machine, and the correspondingnumber read on the fixed scale of the rule to getthe reading on the tapefor the position to which the typewriter-car rlagemust then be moved for printing the initial character of the'matter to .be written. lVhether or not O 1s one of the selected margins, the operation is the same. Letus assume, for instance, that the margins selected are 0 and 80. cupying thirty letter-spaces is to be cen tered between margins O and 80, the number isread ed on the fixed scale 30. In such case, it. will be noted thatthe innnber 3O on the scale 30 registers with the number 25 on the tape. 25 is therefore the graduation of the typewriterscale at which the carriage-pointer should be set for--writing the initial character of matter occupying thirty letter-spaces to be centered between 0 and 80.

The principle of computation lllVOlVtBtl is simple and is as follows. In the first example above given. the margin-stops were This means that there are 25 ant 70. forty-live letter-. rates within which the writing is to be centered. A single charactcr to be centered between 25 and 7 O i will therefore be set at one-halfof forty- .iive, or at either twenty-two or twenty-three, letter-spaces beyond the starting margin 25 that is to say will be set at the gradeation l7 or e8. Where, however, there On reading, for example, the s'unr 1-2, the tape has been setm the manner indicated. This number If matter 00- are a number of characters in the writing (in the example given there are eleven), half of these must fall on each side of the center-position 4:7 or 48. One-half of eleven is live and one-half, and live and onehalf subtracted from LT- A gives a reading 4-2. The reading as has been shown by the rule to be the proper reading on the typeivriter-scale for the initial character. Obviously the point midway between 25 and may be determined by taking half the sum of these numbers.

If the scales in Figure 1 be measured as to length, it will be noted that the scale 30 is just one-half of the length of the scale 12, and that the scale l9 and the scale 12 are of the same length. So far as effecting any re quired computation is concerned, it is not necessary that the scales of the computing device have any such relations in length to the length of the fixedscale 12 on the typewriting llltlClllDG. The scale 30' may be of any desired length, provided it has graduations equal in number to the graduations on the scale 12. llhe scale49 on the tape must, however, be twice as long as the scale 30, and, if the scale 30 is more than half as'long as the scale 12, the support of the scale 4-9 might have to be extended beyond the side members of the typewriter-frame. t is, therefore, convenient to make the scale of the same length as the scale 12, in which event the scale 30 will, of course, behalf that length, as shown in Figure 1.

It will be notedthat, upon removal of the screws 26, the bracket-arms 27 and the com puting device may be removed as a unit when desired. It will also be noted that the computing device and its connectionsare attachable to the frame of the machine without modification of the latter, and that the attachment is so simploiand convenient that the device may be marketed independently of the machine, to be bought and attached to the machine if desired.

Variations may be resorted to within. the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

'1'. A slide-device for ascertaining the scale position on a typcwriting machine of the initial character of any writing to be centered between any given readings on the scale of the typewrit-ing machine, having' in fixed position thereon a scale, the graduations of which are numbered as on the letter-space scale of the typewriting machine, and the slide of which is a continuous tape having a front and a rear reach, the front rcach of which bears a scale, the graduations of which are similarly numbered, but in the reverse direction, and areat letterspace distances apart and at twice the distance apart of the graduations on the fixed scale.

J slide-device :tor ascertaining the scale positionou a t y pewriti'ng machine of the in itial characterof any writing to be centered' between, given 'readings'on the scale of the typewriting B1tlCl1ll19,. l1 1"lHg intiXed-position-thereon a miniature-scale, the graduiu tions of which are numbered as on the let-1. tor-space scale of the-typewriting. machine," and the; slide otwhich isza continuous :tape bearing-1a :scale, the graduations of which are similarly numbered,- but in thereversc direction andare:at twice the distance: apart O't 'tlit grtaduationsxon the-fixed miniati-n'e scale, and: a handle onthe-rea1-reaclroii the. tape ttoiwsliding thesame, the handle being, carried by theends ot the tape beyond their point of attachment to one another, and-the: trontand rear reaches of thetape being-eachn'ioreithan twice the length of the fixed miniature'scaleysothat any desired graduation oi? the tape iscale :may be bi-ought into; coin.- cidence with any desired graduation oi? the: Fixed miniature: scale without moving -.saidhandle out of the letl'l l'etltfllm.

3. A slide-device t'or ascertaining the scale= positionon a type w'riting inaehine ot the initial character of zanyzwriting to be centered betwcenany given-readings on thescalept the typewritinmachine, having in; ii Xed po sition thereon a SCfilQf'tllQ,HgL'tLClllfltlOllS"Of which are. numbered. as on the -letter-s1 a;cescale'o'f the typewriting machine;andwthe. slide of whichis a continuous tape bearing-a scale, the graduations: 0t which. are similarly: numbered but in the reverse direction, and are at twice the distance apart of the gradiw ations on-the-fixed scale, and'a handle on the tape} 't'or-slidingtheisame, the handle be-- ing ;abloch having ia slot in which are se cured the ends of the tape beyond their point; of attachment to oneanothe 4-. A. slide-device for ascertaining-the scale position on. a typew-riting machine ot the in: itial character of any writingto be centeredbetween any given readings, onthe sc-aleiot- (m the lixedminiature sea the typewriti-ng machine, having infixed position thereon a miniature scale, the graduations of which are nun'ibered-as, butuat less: distance-apart than, onthe letter-space scale of the typewriting machine, and the slide (it which is a continuous tape bearing; a scale, the graduadons-ot which aresimilarly;nunv bored, but in the reversedirect-ion audlare at twice thc distancc apartnot the. graduathms 5. In a tjvpewriting machinehaving a let' tor-space scale; a slide-device tor tlSCGl'ttillh; i ngi the letter-space scale positizomot the =in+ .itial character otauy writingv to I be centinied between any. given readings; on saidtletterspacexscale,having ii vtixed'position thcrc on a miniature scale,graduationsz of which arenumbered"as, but at; less (liStdllCQ apart than, upon the letter-space scale,'and: the

a scale, the graduatimis of which are siinilarlynumbered "butin the reverse direction and are at twice the distanee apart ot the graduationsion the miniature scale, and a shield concealing all otthe band scale except the portion which is .in register with the miniature: scale. I

6. A slide-device tor ascertaining the s -ale position on'a t pewriting machine of the in itialcharactcr of any writing to be centered between any given readings on the scale o't the typewritinginachine, comprisinga plate,

having'in fixed position thereon a scale, the

graduations of which are numbered as on theiletter space SCtt-lQOit the typewritiug ma- Cl11116,'-111(l theslide of which is a continuous tape behind said plate but showing. in part through anxopening intherplate; and bearing a SCtllQ,=tll graduations of which tape-scale are"siuiilarly numbered, butun the reverse directioinand are at twice the distance apart o'tothe'graduations onthetixed scale.

7. A slide-device for ascertaining the scale position =on' a tyq'ieivriting machine of the initial Clltfl'ttli-litl' of any writing to he centered between any given readings on the scale ot theitypewriting machine, comprising a plate, having; in fixed position thereon a scale, the graduations:ot which are nuinbered asi on-ithe letter-space scale ol the typewriting' machine, and the slide of which is a continuous tape, behind said plate but showing in partthrough an opening in the plate,-.-\vhich"issomewhat greater in length thanthe' fixed scale on the plate, and bearinga scalemthe graduations of which. tapescaleare siinilarly numbered, but in. the rererse directicni,and'are at twice the distance apartio'l the graduations on the fixed scales.

8.1hSlltl6-ClOVlCG 't'or ascertaining the scale-position on a typewriting machine or? thewinitial character ot any wvritingto be centered between anyrgiven readings on the scale o'ti'tlie typewriting machine, comprtv ingza plate,-=having in fixed position thereon a scale, the graduations of which are numbered=as on:.the letter-space scale of ti e typewriting machine, and the slide (it which is a continuoustape, behind said plate but sir-owning.in part'through an opcn'ng in. the plate. which isisoniewhat ereatenin lengl than the fixed: scale on the platcgand bcuring-a scale, the f,l't('l.lttlil )iifi ot' which tape scale a-re similarlynumbered. hut in the re verse dii ectioin-and are-at twice the distance apartci thc graduatious on the linedv scale,

the plate-being; ot a length to over-reach theentirestape-scale, and the fixed scale being; located centrally ot the plate.

9. A slide device tor asccrtainingthe scale position on a typewriting machine of the initial chairacter of any writing to be cenered between any given readings on the slide of which is a continuous:band bearing. s aloof the"typewriting machine, comprisllli ing a plate, having in fixed position thereon a scale, the graduations of which are numbered as on the letter-space scale of the type- Writing machine, and the slide of which is a continuous tape, behind said plate but showing in part through an opening in the plate, which is somewhat greater in length than the fixed scale on the plate, and bearing a scale, the graduations of which tape-scale are similarly numbered, but in the reverse direction, and are at twice the distance apart of the graduations on the fixed scale, the plate being of a length to over-reach the entire tape-scale, and the fixed scale being located centrally of the plate, and a handle on the tape located centrally of the tapescale, whereby the tape may be moved to bring any selected graduation thereon into registration with any selected graduation on the plate-scale.

10. A slide-rule for ascertainiln the scale position on a typewriting machine of the initial character of any writing to be centered between any given readings on the scale of the typewriting machine, compris ing a plate, having in fixed central position thereon a scale, the graduations of which are numbered as on theletter-space scale of the typewriting machine, said plate also having an opening adjacent the fixed scale and approximately of the same' length, and the slide of which is a continuous tape exposed through, said opening and greater in length than the fixed scale onthe plate, said tape bearing a scale, the graduations of which are similarly numbered, but in the reverse direction, and are at twice the distance apart of the gradua-tions on the fixed scale, the plate being of a length tov overreach the entire tape-scale, and a handle on the tape located centrally of the tape-scale, so that the tape may be moved to bring any selected graduation thereon into registration with any selected graduation on the plate-scale without moving the handle more than half the length of the scale on the tape.

ll. A slide-device for ascertaining the scale position on a typewriting machine of the initial character of any writing to be centered between any given readings on the scale of the typewriting machine, comprising a plate, having in fixed position thereon a scale, the graduations of which are numbered as on the letter-space scale of the typewriting machine, and. the slide of which is a continuous tape bearing a scale, the gradu ations of which are sin'iilarly numbered, but in the reverse direction, and are at twice the distance apart of the graduations on the fixed scale, said plate having a channel, formed on the rear side of the plate, to receive the entire tapeelide, and an opening adjacent the fixed scale to expose a portion of the scale on the tape.

12. A slide-device for ascertaining the scale position on a typewriting machine of the initial character of any writing to be centered between any given reading on the scale of the typewriting machine, comprising a plate, having in fixed position thereon a scale, the graduations of which are numbered as on the letter-space scale of the type writing machine, a slide in the form of a continuous tape bearing a scale, the graduations of which are similarly numbered, but in the reverse direction, and are at twice the distance apart of the graduations 0n the fixed scale, brackets on the side of the plate opposite the fixed scale and pins on the brackets for supporting the tape, said plate having an opening adjacent the fixed scale to permit the fixed scale and the scale on the tape to be viewed concomitantly.

13.111 a typewriting machine, a letterspace scale on the fixed frame thereof, a carriage having a pointer or indexed-piece to register with the graduations on said scale, brackets, depending IEOlI'\VL1Cl and downward from the scale-support, on the fixed frame, a plate supported by the brackets parallel to said scale and having thereon another scale, the graduations of which are numbered similarly and in the same direction as the graduations on the first-mentioned scale, and a slide-scale mounted on said plate, co-operating with the fixed scale thereon, and bearing graduations which are similarly numbered, but in the reverse direction, and are at twicethe distance apart of the graduations on the fixed scale on said plate.

14. In a typeWriting machine, a letterspace scale on the fixed frame thereof, a car riage having a pointer or index-piece to register with the graduations on said scale, brackets on the fixed frame, a plate supported by the brackets parallel to said scale and having thereon another scale, centered and condensed with. respect to the first-mentioned scale, and the gradua-tions of which are numbered similarly and in the same direction as the graduations on the first-mew tioned scale, and a slide-scale mounted on said plate, co-operating with the fixed scale thereon, and bearing graduations which are similarly numbered, but in the reverse direction, and are at twice the distance apart of the gradua'tions on the fixed scale on said plate.

15. In a typewriting machine, a letter" space scale on the fixed frame thereof, a carriage having a pointer or index-piece to register with the graduations on said scale, brackets on the fixed frame, a plate support ed by the brackets parallel to said scale and having thereon another scale, the graduations of which are numbered similarly and in the same direction as the graduations on the first-nientioned scale, brackets on said plate, and a continuous, slidable tape carried 

